Points of Interest

Liz loves to sing, and brought down the house with Carole King's "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman" while dressed as a sailor.

Liz believes in the life-changing power of sport and activity, and loves helping people find their groove.

Personal

Carlson grew up in northwestern Pennsylvania, far from the sport of track cycling. By age 7, she was an accomplished swimmer. In high school, she played basketball, golf, ran track & field and was named Class Athlete of her 1987 graduating class.

In 1992, she began working for Runner's World and Bicycling magazines. Bob Rodale, the company’s founding father, created T-Town in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, the most widely-recognized venue on the U.S. track scene today.

When Carlson wanted to explore the world beyond her rural hometown, she rode a Greyhound bus to California and rode her bike back home. As a daring young woman, solo-touring the Florida and Oregon coastline taught her about self-sufficiency and preparation. Riding, then racing, mountain bikes was pure fun and gave her a community of friends she calls family. And when Liz was settled into her career and looking for new challenges, she discovered track racing and gained a lifetime of lessons.

In 2006, after winning two world championship titles as a masters athlete, Liz qualified to compete for the United States at the Los Angeles UCI World Cup. She rose to the occasion and earned four top-10 finishes as a U.S. National Team rookie. Liz has since won eight elite national titles — three in the 500-meter time trial and five in the team sprint, a new addition to the 2012 London Olympic program.

The strongest U.S. starter with three World Cup seasons to her credit, Carlson is an asset to a young U.S. sprint program. She and teammate Madeline Godby set a new American record in the team sprint at the 2011 Pan American Games. And in March, 2012, she earned her first elite international podium spot with bronze in the 500m TT at the Pan American Championships.

Having literally “grown up” with Title IX, Liz is a strong advocate for women in sports. She credits her success to good genes, a solid work ethic, desire to learn and ability to rest. She loves bringing new ideas to life, cooking delicious food for her husband and staying in touch with family and friends.

In 2011, Liz joined the National Eating Disorders Association as a NEDA Navigator, an outreach program that supports parents, family and friends of those struggling with eating disorders.

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USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States. The 501c3, membership-based organization aims both to achieve sustained success in international cycling competition and to grow competitive cycling in America while delivering an exceptional customer experience.
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